KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 27

A group of 33 citizens, who once held prominent positions, have urged the government to save the life of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death demanding reform in the medical education sector for the past 14 days.

Issuing a joint press release today they have also asked the government to fulfil earlier promises made by the government with the medical reformist.

The release has sought cooperation from the government stating that Dr KC’s health has started deteriorating speedily.

“We are saddened by the fact that the government has not been serious even as the doctors involved in his treatment have warned that Dr KC could develop critical health complications anytime,” reads the joint press release.

The press release was issued by 33 Nepali citizens, who once held prominent positions. They include former chief justices Kalyan Shrestha and Sushila Karki, former house speaker Damannath Dhungana and former vice-chancellor of the Tribhuvan University Kedar Bhakta Mathema. The group also comprises doctors who once led Nepal Medical Associations, former chairs of Nepal Bar Association and former chairs of Federation of Nepali Journalists and several human right activists.

Dr KC started the 19th hunger strike from a temple in Jumla on September 14.

As his health started deteriorating shortly, Dr KC was forcibly taken to Karnali Academy of Health Sciences and from there to Nepalgunj on September 21.

Subsequently, the government had flown him to Kathmandu via Yeti Airlines. He has since been placed at TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj and is surviving on saline water.

Dr KC’s repeated hunger strike has forced the government to make around a dozen changes in policy about medical education.

He is, however, yet again forced to stage another fast-unto-death hunger strike to exhort pressure on the government to start the MBBS programme at KAHS.

He has also forwarded other demands including increasing the range of PCR tests to identify more COVID-19 patients and contact tracing following the result, ending lockdowns and prohibitory orders, making use of mask and physical distancing compulsory for all. He has also demanded investigation into various corruption cases in the country including those in the health sector.

A version of this article appears in e-paper on September 28, 2020, of The Himalayan Times.